Las Vegas Weekly

October 31, 2009 · 8:58 AM

Photo Gallery: LeAnn Rimes kicks off PBR World Finals’ first night

By Robin Leach

LeAnn Rimes performs the national anthem during the first round of the 2009 Professional Bull Riders World Finals at Thomas & Mack Center on Oct. 30, 2009.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Singer LeAnn Rimes kicked off the first round of the 16th Annual Professional Bull Riders Finals with her performance of the national anthem last night at the Thomas & Mack Center. Then she made a super-fast dash back to Treasure Island for the second of her two back-to-back concerts there this week.

(Click HERE for our Editor Don Chareunsy’s coverage of her Thursday show there.)

J.B. Mauney of Mooresville, N.C., won the opening round, and it was identical to his first-round win here one year ago. J.B. received $25,000 and a score of 89.75 points for topping the bull Chester. If he goes on to win the $1 million grand prize next weekend, he would be the first rider east of the Mississippi to win the world champion title. He’s competing with the Top 40 bull riders in the world’s toughest, meanest and most dangerous sport.

During his winner's circle interview, J.B. said: “I don’t let the World Finals environment get to me. I just treat it as another bull-riding event. There’s pressure, but this is so much fun. I’m just doing what I love.”

Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue was right up as close as could be to all the action -- and the bucking beasts -- to capture this photo gallery for us.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

The first round of the 2009 Professional Bull Riders World Finals at Thomas & Mack Center on Oct. 30, 2009.

The PBR World Finals are being broadcast live on Versus each night, with former UNLV student and pro rider Justin McBride serving as the color commentator. Justin, who has turned country western singer since retiring from the circuit last year, performed at the Hard Rock Hotel last night and tonight will sing at Club PBR, which has been set up in Mizuya Lounge at Mandalay Bay.

Also attending last night was favorite PBR entertainer Flint Rasmussen, the Barrel Man Rodeo Clown, who’ll be at PBR every night. The spotlight also shone on a 1,550-pound Brangus cross-bull, Pandora’s Box, who was officially introduced and retired with an 88 percent buck-off statistic!

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

The first round of the 2009 Professional Bull Riders World Finals at Thomas & Mack Center on Oct. 30, 2009.

Last night’s winners also included Josh Koschel of Colorado in second place, who earned $18,000, and Travis Briscoe of New Mexico in third place with $12,000. In the overall standings from the past eight months of competition, the rankings are 1) Kody Lostroh of Colorado with $357,625, 2) Guilherme Marchi of Brazil with $258,528 and 3) J.B. Mauney with $399,208. (Placements in competitions don’t necessarily translate to overall prize money.)

Tonight for Round 2, the opening theme of the show will be a salute to the U.S. Air Force. The last 15 rides of the third round tomorrow also will be broadcast on CBS.

Vegas DeLuxe will have daily coverage over the next eight days of PBR competition, entertainment and other fan attractions.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter HERE.

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